On a grey day, Snyder's Striders shows its support for Chenango County's Relay for Life with its many shades of purple.

Below is a Letter to the Editor from Marie DeSarro, highlighting what 'Paint the County Purple" day is about.

Dear Editor,

Thursday, May 1, 2014 is Paint the County Purple day in Chenango County. Purple is the color of inspiration and Paint the County Purple activities are designed to generate community excitement about the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life season in Chenango County.

Relay For Life is an opportunity for the community to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back. Relay For Life of Chenango County will take place the weekend of July 18, 2014 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds in Norwich, NY.

On Thursday, May 1 inspire with purple! Here are a few ways that you can participate:

Wear purple to work or to school

Plant purple flowers - if your neighbors ask why, tell them about Relay!

Schools can incorporate purple and cancer facts into classroom activities

Restaurants and bars can use purple placemats, napkins, coasters or offer purple foods, desserts or drinks

Retail stores - dress your window in purple, fly purple balloons or hang purple ribbons around your store

Hospitals and medical offices decorate a waiting area in purple, wear purple medical gloves and tell patients why!

Decorate your office cubicle in purple

Decorate your town’s park or centralized location

Ask your town officials to set a proclamation

Don’t limit yourself to these ideas, be creative!!

Send the Relay For Life of Chenango County planning committee pictures of your Paint the County Purple activities. Please email us at Relay.Chenango@gmail.com; we’re collecting photographs and compiling a list of supporters!

Please also join us on Saturday, May 10th for a chicken and biscuit dinner and Chinese auction fundraiser, sponsored by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Outreach Committee. The dinner will take place at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 37 West Main St., Norwich from 4:30pm – 7:00pm. Deliveries within the city limits are available as well as takeouts (call 334-8801). For more information on Relay For Life of Chenango County or the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.relayforlife.org/chenangocountyny.

Sincerely,

Marie DeSarro

Event Chair

Relay For Life of Chenango County

(Frank Speziale Photo)